David Jorgensen and the Free to Choose Network

Silicon Valley entrepreneur David Jorgensen has played an instrumental role in the initial development and extended success of several major national and global technology enterprises over the course of the past four decades, endeavors that provided him with the fiscal means to pursue his long held passion for philanthropy. Following the completion of his Master of Science in Engineering at Stanford University, Mr. Jorgensen moved on to co-found the Katun Corporation, a venture he helped grow from the ground up and oversaw for more than two decades. David Jorgensen seized the opportunity to increase his involvement in the charitable arena after selling Katun to a group of private equity investors in 2002, joining forces with Free to Choose Network (FTCN) as the organization’s Vice Chairman. A non-profit foundation that champions the open and democratic exchange of ideas, FTCN employs a wide array of traditional and digital media platforms to bolster public support for its cause.

With the backing of forward-thinking individuals such as David Jorgensen Katun, Free to Choose Network produces an extensive range of educational and engrossing programs that are then broadcast on the worldwide web through the Google search engine and popular sites like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. In an effort to reach the largest audience possible, FTCN also partners with public television stations across the country to promote its thought-provoking videos and teaching tools. Although FTCN strives to appeal to viewers of all ages, the non-profit agency channels a vast portion of its resources toward engaging younger demographics in intellectual activism. To accomplish this goal, FTCN collaborates with teachers and school administrators to raise awareness of its mission, extending distinctive recognition to those educators who best utilize FTCN teaching units in the classroom.

Sponsoring an annual event called the Winning Ideas Weekend, Free to Choose Network brings together an intergenerational group of students, teachers, parents, and guest speakers to discuss and explore the basic underlying principles that comprise a prosperous society. The 2012 Winning Ideas Weekend is scheduled to take place in Erie, Pennsylvania from June 28 – June 30 and will culminate in a ceremony that honors five educators whose work optimally embodies FTCN’s vision. Thanks to the generosity of the David & Annette Jorgensen Foundation, FTCN looks forward to many more Winning Ideas Weekends in the years to come.

To learn more about the Free to Choose Network and David Jorgensen, visit aboutdavidgjorgensen.org.